Assistance Dog Trainer (Puppy & Advanced)

Medical Detection Dogs; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading charity in canine training is seeking a dedicated trainer to oversee puppy training. This role involves providing effective training, conducting assessments, and ensuring the highest standards are met. Candidates should have experience in dog training and be capable of working in a team while maintaining high-quality standards. The position offers various benefits, including holiday, pension contributions, and health cover.

Benefits

Sick Pay

Health Cover

26 days holiday

5% Employer Pension Contribution

Life Assurance

Free On-site parking

Qualifications

• Minimum of 1-2 years of experience in dog training.
• Knowledge of medical conditions relevant to puppies.
• Understanding of dog training regulations.

Responsibilities

• Train and monitor puppies ensuring high standards.
• Conduct training sessions with socialisers and dogs.
• Prepare puppies for medical alert training.

Skills

Dog training experience

Behavioral problem solving

Communication skills

Time management

IT literacy

Education

Dog training certification or equivalent

Job description

Overview

We are looking for someone with the skills, experience and passion to join our team of trainers responsible for organising and monitoring the progress of our puppies and young dogs, with advanced training as required to ensure they receive the highest standard of socialisation and training, maximising their chances of becoming a Medical Detection Dog. This is an exciting opportunity to join a small innovative charity that is a world leader in its specialist field.

Responsibilities

• Training and Development of Puppies: take responsibility for a group of puppies (approximately 10) allocated to socialisers in your geographical area and provide training that adheres to ADUK regulations and MDD quality standards within set timescales and targets.
• Deliver effective training through puppy classes, 121s, and home visits with socialisers in your geographical area.
• Conduct regular training sessions with assistance dogs in training in various environments to ensure they are confident and responsive in real-world settings.
• Prepare the puppy to be a Medical Alert Assistance Dog using positive reinforcement techniques to teach desired behaviours and modify unwanted behaviours.
• Regularly monitor progress of the puppies in your area and provide detailed, evidenced feedback to the senior team within Dog Supply and Training.
• Support and assist with potential matches for a particular assistance dog partnership when required.
• Prepare the puppy to pass the relevant Assistance Dog assessments and highlight to your line manager any dogs not progressing sufficiently through the training programme.
• Socialiser Support: be the first point of contact for the socialisers in your area, providing guidance, support and instruction on effective work and training with their assistance dogs.
• Provide general health care advice within your core working hours.
• Socialiser Recruitment: assist in the recruitment of new volunteer socialisers when required and assess prospective socialisers (home, workplace, pet dog and children assessments) as needed.
• Advanced Assistant Dog Trainer: when required, take dogs home during the advanced training period to ensure continuous development and reinforcement of training routines.
• Arrange training plans for each dog in advance training under your supervision, including day-to-day arrangements for training, collection, pickup and holiday cover; ensure all dogs receive the appropriate training to pass their final assessment.
• Work closely with the Medical Alert Assistance Dog (MAAD) team and support the final stages of the dogs matching process, including addressing client-specific queries before onsite meetings and carrying out client-specific training on the advanced dogs.
• Support dog and client home stays when required and collaborate with the Health & Welfare team regarding dogs under supervision.
• Complete appropriate paperwork for training records, assessments and recruitment of volunteers; report concerns, provide feedback and seek guidance where appropriate.
• Complete handover of the Assistance dog to the MAAD Instructor within agreed timelines and provide feedback to the Dog Supply team on dogs’ progress under supervision.
• Support the Temporary Fosterer application process and provide support to Temporary Fosterers who may look after advanced dogs in training; highlight to your line manager any dogs not progressing sufficiently through the advanced training programme.
• Other duties as agreed with your line manager to ensure the successful running of the charity.
• Other: update the Harlequin CRM database in a timely fashion to ensure accurate training, veterinary and health records; support the charity’s fundraising, communications and volunteering teams as required; share best practice with colleagues across the charity.

Experience and Qualifications

• Experience in training Assistance Dogs.
• Minimum of 1-2 years of experience in dog training.
• Basic theory of practical dog training.
• Law in relation to dogs.
• Knowledge of medical conditions relevant to puppies between 8 weeks and 2 years of age.
• Dog and human psychology.
• Health and safety implications of dog and socialiser handling.
• Experience and understanding of ADUK, ADI regulations and MDD’s internal quality standards.

Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrate high quality judgement with a proven track record in dog training, including temperaments analysis, appropriate training methods and maintaining public perception of assistance dogs.
• Provide solutions to training and behavioural problems.
• Socialiser training: assess learning styles and adapt training accordingly, including following specific programmes.
• Strong and clear teaching and instructing skills.
• Plan work, stay organised and use time effectively for yourself, colleagues and socialisers.
• Communicate effectively with a wide range of people internally and externally (clients, families, fosterers, professionals, the public, media, managers and colleagues).
• High level IT literacy and report writing skills, including Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, Internet Explorer and PowerPoint.

Personal Attributes

• Supportive of the charitable aims of Medical Detection Dogs and capable of working as part of a team, as well as being self-motivated.
• Adaptable and open to change, creative in problem solving and able to respond to new ideas and unexpected situations; respectful communication; cooperative and honest in all interactions.

Benefits

• Sick Pay
• Health Cover
• 26 days holiday, increasing with service
• 5% Employer Pension Contribution
• Life Assurance
• Free On-site parking

Requirements

• Hold a full UK Driving Licence
• Provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the UK
• Undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
• Work some evenings and weekends